Foot-form arch-support.



.!. LITTIVIAN.

FOOT FORM ARCH SUPPORT.

APPLICATION man APR. 10. xsxe.

Paented Dec. 12, 1916.

un ras rieten,

JULIUS LITTMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOOT-FORM ARCH-SUPPORT.

To aZZ whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that l, JULiUs LiTfrMAN, a subject of the Emperor ofAustria-Hungary, residing at 1518 First avenue, New York, county of NewYork, and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulimprovements in Foot-Form Arch- Supports, fully described andrepresented in the following specication and the accompanying drawings,forming a part of the saine.

My invention relates to an instep archsupport adapted to be manufacturedand sold independent of the shoe, andhaving a bottom-plate proportionedto lit within the same over the shank and heel of the sole.

rIhe bottom-plate is preferably made of metal so that integral flangescan be extended up therefrom to lit the opposite sidewalls of the shoe.Besides these features of the bottom-plate, the invention embraces aparticular construction for the arch-plate and the means for supporting`it yieldingly upon the bottom-plate.

The invention will be understood by reference to the annexed drawing,which shows the fixtures secured within a shoe, and also certain of theparts in detail.

ln the drawing, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the rear portionof a shoe having the arch-support applied thereto Fig. 2 is a plan ofthe sole of the shoe (with the fixtures ap lied thereto) in section justabove the level oiP the fixtures; Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3 3in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 shows the under side of the arch-plate with itssupporting springs. Fig. 5 is a plan of the sole of the shoe and thecover-piece of the arch-plate.

rlhe sole 0I'1 the shoe at the shank is designated a, and the heel Z).The bottom plate 0 of the fixture is proportioned to fit over the shankand over the heel, and is shaped to fit closely against the counter cZ,and its rear end secured by nails or screws f inserted through thecover-piece n and the heel. Flanges c and d extend upwardly from theplate o at opposite sides to t within the sides of the shoe, and a lowflange Z2 extends within the counter CZ.

The arch-plate g is shaped to suit the foot of the wearer, and litsagainst the flange ZZ at one side of the bottom-plate. At its oppositeedge, it is formed with several slots la and smooth headed rivets havetheir Shanks Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. l2, MMM.

Application filed April 10, 1916. Serial No. 90,055.

inserted through the slots and secured in the bottom-plate 0.

Spiral springs Z are inserted between the bottom-plate and thearch-plate, being located at diii'erent points to sustain the pressureover' such points. These springs operate in an entirely dierent mannerfrom leaf-springs, which yield only at the middle of their length andthus furnish an elastic support at one `point only; whereas the spiralsprings may be inserted in any required number, and each one be enabledto yield in proportion to the pressure upon it.

The springs shown are of the form made of a V-shaped piece ofsheet-metal wound to produce spiral coils at each side of its middleportion, such coils pressing one within the other when the spring isloaded, and such springs presenting a maximum endurance and supportingpower in a given space.

A rubber block s is inserted under the arch-plate g near the slots iz,where there is not space enough for spiral springs.

The slotted connection of the arch-plate to the bottom-plate permits thearch-plate to expand laterally when it is pressed by the foot, while itholds the arch-plate from any longitudinal displacement.

Over all of the iixtures so far described, is secured a cover-plate aconsisting of leather fitting the bottom of the shoe and secured withinthe heel by tacks f. Such cover-piece extends wholly over the archplate,and its free end is held movably to the sole beyond the arch-plate bypin-andslot connections c, shown in Figs. l and 2, which form aslip-joint with the sole. Such cover-piece distributes the pressure ofthe arch-plate upon the foot and protects all the other parts :fromwear. The slotted connection p permits the cover-piece to slip on thesole as it is pressed down by the foot.

The bottom-plate with its integral flanges c and CZ', is made of thinmetal so as to occupy no material space within the shoe, and the flangesG, CZ and Z2 retain it in position independently of all other means. Theflanges may be lined with cloth, felt, or a thin layer of asbestos, ifdesired, and such a layer is indicated at Z in Fig. 3.

@wing to the thinness of the metallic bottom-plate c, l prefer toreinforce it under the springs Z by a thin steel plate fm, which may besecured to the bottom-plate by rivets m.

The springs z' and s do not lose their elasticity as many leaf-springsdo7 and my archsuppOrt is therefore very durable. The cover-piece nsupports the foot more effectively than a mere archlate; and the deviceis thus rendered com ortable to the wearer.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention what is claimed hereinis:

l. An arch-support for insertion within a shoe, consisting of abottom-plate adapted to extend over the shank and heel of the shoe, andan arch-plate connected to the bottom-plate over the shank of the shoeby transversely slotted connections, and .having a plurality of spirallywound springs itte'd between the bottomplate and the archplate.

2. An arclrsupport for insertion within a shoe, consisting of abottom-plate adapted to extend within the heel and having flangesextended upwardly therefrom to fit the sidewalls of the shoe, and anarch-plate connected to the bottom-plate over the shank of the shoe bytransversely slotted connections, and having a plurality of spirallyCopies of this patent may be obtained for by transversely slottedconnections, and 1 having a plurality of spirally wound springs 'fittedbetween the bottom-plate and the arch-plate.

4. An arch-support for insertion within a shoe, consisting` of abottom-plate, an arch-plate connected to the bottom-plate over the shankof the shoe by transversely 'slotted connections, and having a pluralityof spirally wound springs itted between the bottom-plate and thearch-plate, and a cover-plate applied over the whole and secured withinthe heel and provided at its free end with a slip-connection to thesole.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JULIUS LITTMAN.

Washington, D. C.

